Abstract: A system and method of additively manufacturing a part via salt micro-spheres. The method includes mixing salt micro-spheres with an additive manufacturing material to form an additive manufacturing material mixture. The additive manufacturing material mixture is deposited on a build platform layer by layer and cured so as to create a structure having pores formed by the salt micro-spheres. The salt micro-spheres may then be dissolved and flushed from the pores.

Abstract: In some examples, a controller receives measurement data responsive to operation of a vibrated spreader for use in dispensing a build material onto a target surface, and controls a frequency of a vibration of the spreader based on the measurement data.

Abstract: A system includes a controller to receive data corresponding to an object or slices of the object to be generated by a 3D printer, wherein the 3D printer includes an array of printhead nozzles to selectively eject a print agent on a layer of build material in a build chamber having a build chamber wall, the array of printhead nozzles spanning substantially the full width of the build chamber and moveable along a length of the build chamber. The controller to generate first print data used to generate layers of the object based on the received object data, and to generate second print data used to generate layers of a sacrificial barrier located between the object and the build chamber wall, the second print data is generated such that different parts of the sacrificial barrier are generated using a different plurality of nozzles of the array of printhead nozzles.

Abstract: A method for producing a three-dimensional molded object includes forming a solidified layer by irradiating an irradiation region of a material layer with a laser beam or an electron beam, obtaining data about projections having a height higher than a predetermined value formed on a surface of the solidified layer, calculating heights of the projections, areas of the projections, or the number of the projections based on the data, and determining a molded state of the solidified layer by making a comparison between the calculated heights of the projections and a first threshold relating to heights of the projections, between the calculated areas of the projections and a second threshold relating to an areas of the projections, or between the calculated number of the projections and a third threshold relating to the number of the projections.

Abstract: In an aspect, a mold stack may comprise two adjacent components, one at least partially defining a vent adjustable between a molding configuration and a cleaning configuration. A junction of the components may be adjustable between a molding configuration, wherein mating faces contact one another to define a parting line, and a cleaning configuration, wherein mating faces are separated to create a molding cavity extension therebetween and an auxiliary melt barrier prevents uncontrolled flashing from the extension.

Abstract: A three-dimensional shaping apparatus shapes a first shaped article by ejecting a material from an ejection section, forms a first portion of a second shaped article by adjusting an output of a temperature adjusting section while measuring a temperature of the first shaped article by a temperature sensor so that a viscosity of the first shaped article calculated based on the temperature of the first shaped article measured by the temperature sensor and first relational data representing a relationship between a temperature and a viscosity of the material becomes a predetermined viscosity or less, and ejecting the material from the ejection section, and forms a second portion that is a portion adjacent to the first portion of the second shaped article by ejecting the material from the ejection section while adjusting a temperature of the first portion by the temperature adjusting section with the adjusted output.

Abstract: Described is a method for manufacturing a radio frequency (RF) absorber. The method includes first determining a set of desired RF absorption properties for a RF absorber. A computer model for the RF absorber having the determined set of desired RF absorption properties is then produced. Using a three-dimensional (3D) printing process, melted plastic filament loaded with a RF absorber material is deposited in in computer controlled patterns according to the computer model, thereby producing the RF absorber having the set of desired RF absorption properties.

Abstract: A method of curing an aircraft component including applying a temperature sensitive adhesive to a surface of a component, the surface having a contour; positioning a heating tool including a manifold with a ventilation path such that the ventilation path is adjacent to the surface by aligning the ventilation path to the contour of the component; and heating the surface of the component with uniform airflow from the ventilation path; wherein the manifold includes a chamber with a diverging portion configured to provide uniform airflow through the ventilation path to provide heating to the surface.

Abstract: Printers are disclosed. An example printer includes a build controller to access metrics of a layer on a work area and to select a dosing profile from a plurality of dosing profiles to fuse the layer based on the metrics.

Abstract: A movable raw material processing unit for an additive manufacturing device for manufacturing a solid article comprises a housing comprising a transport device for disengaging the raw material processing unit from the additive manufacturing device. The raw material processing unit comprises a raw material container unit, a build unit and a raw material distribution unit.

Abstract: A partitioned lifting forming type selective laser melting workbench, comprises at least forming platform (1) for powder-spreading and sintering and forming of workpiece, the forming platform (1) comprises forming inner abutment (1-1) and at least one forming outer abutment (1-2) which is sleeved on the forming inner abutment (1-1) and arranged in sequence from the inside to the outside in a radial direction, the forming inner abutment (1-1) and each forming outer abutment (1-2) are arranged in a manner of rise and fall, the forming inner abutment (1-1) or the forming outer abutment (1-2) falls independently, or the forming outer abutment (1-2) and the adjacent forming outer abutment or/and the forming inner abutment (1-1) fall together, it can form an area (2) to be subjected to powder-spreading for laser sintering and forming of workpiece.

Abstract: A system may include a printhead for ejecting a first fluid including a polymer, the ejected first fluid forming a substrate with a thermal conductivity of less than 0.5 W/(m-K); a spreader to spread a layer of metal particulate on the substrate, wherein the printhead further ejects a second fluid, the ejected second fluid masking a portion of the layer of metal particulate on the substrate; and a pulse irradiation light source to fuse an unmasked portion of the layer of metal particulate.

Abstract: In some examples, an additive manufacturing system includes a dispensing device, an applicator, a thermal energy source, a thermal imaging device, and a controller. The controller is to cause the dispensing device to deposit a layer of build material and cause the applicator to apply the fusing agent to form an object portion and to apply the detailing agent to form a reference portion in the layer of build material. The controller is to cause the thermal energy source to heat the reference portion and to heat and fuse the object portion and cause the thermal imaging device to measure a temperature of the reference portion. The controller is to regulate a power level of the thermal energy source based on a comparison between the temperature of the reference portion and a set-point for the reference portion, which is based on a target temperature for the object portion.

Abstract: Methods to in-situ monitor production of additive manufacturing products collects images from the deposition process on a layer-by-layer basis, including a void image of the pattern left in a slurry layer after deposition of a layer and a displacement image formed by immersing the just-deposited layer in a renewed slurry layer. Image properties of the void image and displacement image are corrected and then compared to a binary expected image from a computer generated model to identify defects in the just-deposited layer on a layer-by-layer basis. Additional methods use the output from the comparison to form a 3D model corresponding to at least a portion of the additive manufacturing product. Components to control the additive manufacturing operation based on digital model data and to in-situ monitor successive layers for manufacturing defects can be embodied in a computer system or computer-aided machine, such as a computer controlled additive manufacturing machine.

Abstract: According to an example, an apparatus may include a recoater, an energy source, a carriage supporting the energy source, and a controller. The controller may control the recoater to spread build material particles into a layer on top of a previously applied layer containing fused build material particles and the carriage to move ahead of the recoater to cause the energy source to apply energy onto build material particles in the previously applied layer prior to the recoater spreading the build material particles onto the previously applied layer. The energy source is to heat the fused build material particles to or maintain the fused build material particles at a temperature above a certain temperature and the recoater is to be controlled to spread the build material particles on top of the previously applied layer prior to the fused build material particles falling below the certain temperature.

Abstract: A plasticizing apparatus for plasticizing a material to form a molten material includes a screw having a groove formed face, in which a groove portion in a spiral shape to be supplied with the material is formed, and a first heating portion heating the material, and a barrel having a screw opposed face, which is a face opposed to the groove formed face, and in which a sending-out hole for sending out the molten material is formed at a center, and a second heating portion heating the material.

Abstract: Techniques are described for consistently moving powder from a hopper into a trough for subsequent delivery into a build area of an additive fabrication system. A powder delivery apparatus may comprise a hopper, a trough, and a doser. The doser may be configured to rotate about an axis and may include a recess that, when the doser is rotated about the axis, travels into and out of the hopper and into and out of the trough. As a result, when powder is present in the hopper, the recess may carry powder from the hopper to the trough when the doser rotates. The trough and doser may be configured so that when the trough contains the desired amount of powder for recoating, the doser does not transfer additional material from the hopper into the trough. As a result, the amount of powder in the trough may be self-regulating.

Abstract: According to one aspect there is provided an apparatus for generating a three-dimensional object. The apparatus may include a first agent distributor to selectively deliver a coalescing agent onto portions of a layer of build material, a second agent distributor to selectively deliver a coalescence modifier agent onto portions of the layer of build material, and a controller to control the first and second distributors to selectively deliver each of the agent and the coalescence modifier onto the layer of build material in respective patterns derived from data representing a slice of a three-dimensional object to be generated, in which when energy is applied to the layer of build material, the build material coalesces and solidifies to form a slice of the three-dimensional object in accordance the patterns and the three-dimensional object has mechanical object properties that are related to the patterns.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the production of articles, exemplarily a plastic article, by means of an extruder (1) to which a first plastic composition of a first main component and at least one associated minor component is supplied from a first group of dosing stations (21, 24). According to the invention, during the production time of a first production order there is prepared a second group of dosing stations (31, 33) at the extruder for a second production order for which a second plastic composition of a second main component and at least one associated minor component that is different from the first plastic composition has to be supplied to the extruder. After completion of the first production order it is reset to the second production order by terminating the supply of the first plastic composition by closing a first shut-off device (8) and starting the supply of the second plastic composition by opening a second shut-off device (8?).

Abstract: An expanding tool comprising: an actuator comprising a cylindrical housing that defines an actuator housing cavity; a primary ram disposed within the actuator housing cavity, the primary ram defining an internal primary ram cavity; a secondary ram disposed within the internal primary ram cavity; a cam roller carrier coupled to a distal end of the secondary ram; a drive collar positioned within a distal end of the actuator housing cavity; a roller clutch disposed within an internal cavity defined by an inner surface of the drive collar; a shuttle cam positioned between the roller clutch and a distal end of the primary ram; an expander cone coupled to the primary ram; and an expander head operably coupled to the drive collar.